The transition from graphic design to product design
Not a “how-to” but a “why not” article.
Recently, I came across a few messages in a design Discord channel regarding individuals joining the UX industry as their mid-career change. They have my utmost respect as I may not be as brave as them in my own mid-career.
That said, let me share about my ‘switch’ from a graphic design trained graduate to a product designer. Hopefully, this will be useful to design students or graphic designers looking to break into the UIUX field!
A little background
I used to study web design (yes, old term web design) in polytechnic. It was a time without Sketch, and we had to draw pixels on Photoshop.
I fell in love with design because of my course. I enrolled in a traditional design communication school to learn about design. I spent hours in the library devouring through every single design book. I can name almost all the branding agencies and studios both in Singapore and internationally (yeah geeky).
My ideal career path? Study Graphic Design > Graduate and work at design studio > Win some awards > Retire. Most importantly, do some kickass and cool branding work for some brands.
I would have never imagined myself coming back to web design, much less in the finance sector. I walked a big circle to come back to where I began. Here’s my story.
Why did I switch?
01. Compensation
Compensation! Yeap, I need the money. UIUX pays better than graphic design. It’s great when you can do what you love and not worry about the living expenses. It’s another story when you need it. I think it’s nothing to be shameful of so I’m not afraid of the judgement or people saying that you’re giving up your passion.You need to survive to have passion.
02. Meaningful work
There are popular awards like D&AD Pencil, TDC Annual, Crowbar, and the list goes on. I began to question the meaning of awards that are given because an idea is creative and it looks nice. What kind of validation is this? Does it align with what I want? Is this a form of recognition for me to feel good? Can I feel good about my work aside from winning awards?
The answer is…yes!
I found this answer when I joined Seedly. We have user testing sessions with our users to discover challenges or to validate ideas. The feedback we received are often very positive. They would tell us how much they love our product and how it has impacted their lives. This, in retrospect, is worth a lot more than any awards. That to say, it is up to an individual to know what they wish to achieve in life.
An interview conducted by Men’s Folio with a local branding studio director, Yong, also talks about this from a branding perspective. It’s a short piece but it summarises the importance of finding meaning in the work you do.
What‘s similar between Product and Graphic
The similarities between this two practice are also something you can consider when you’re making the decision. Don’t think that you’re an amateur in the field, in fact, the things you are doing are already a good starting point.
01. The things you studied or trained in are still applicable
You’d be surprised that the fundamentals of web design are actually from graphic design. For example, Josef Müller-Brockmann’s Grid System is a comprehensive guide on how to work with grids and constraints. Thinking with Type by Ellen Lupton teaches you basic typography knowledge. These are all applied to the fundamentals of UI design. You already got a head start as compared to people who don’t have such background.
It is by far the crucial knowledge a designer should acquire. Why should the text be 4px or 8px away from one another? Why do some design patterns work while some do not? It’s all Gestalt Principles.
Last but not the least, it takes a trained eye to have good taste in design. It’s subjective, and it takes experience. You’ve signed up to be a graphic designer because you appreciate visual stuff. The trained eye is crucial and needed to create appealing and functional designs.
02. If you know how to write good copy, you’re almost a unicorn
No, designers don’t need to know how to code. It’s a bonus if you have the know-how but leave the work to your engineer friends.
The same old “Designers can’t write well” jolly well still exists in the Product Design field. Hence, if you’re working in an ad agency or have strong copywriting skills, this skill will be an advantage for you. Congrats, you may have just became a unicorn.
A specialised role, UX Writer, is created for that sole purpose. They make sure that the content written in the product is relevant to the users and aid the users in achieving their goals. I would say this role comes hand in hand with the designer. After all, words make up 95% of the screen design.
03. It’s about the system
I believe design is a way of living. The general philosophy and approach can be applied across different practices. First off, branding and product are about and for the users. You need to understand your target audience before designing. The same applies to both branding and product. That’s when your research skills kick in and create insights for the company to use.
If you’re a geek like me, you probably heard of brand guides. NASA, IBM, and many other corporate brand guides revolve around systematic processes and design. The current phenomenon on design system is also an improvement of the standard manuals. It may encapsulate the branding, product, marketing, and research processes of a company. These systems serve the same purpose of informing best practices and aligning design decisions.
That all folks…
Does the transition scare me? Yes, it does! What if I cannot do well in UIUX? What if this is not what I want? I am starting fresh again in something that I am familiar yet foreign with. I wasn’t sure but one thing I know is that I need a job. So I did it.
I never regretted studying or practicing graphic design. If you have the means, go learn it. I believe every additional knowledge will make you a better designer.
If you are in Singapore, you should join the FOF Singapore’s Discord. We’ve a bunch of friendly and talented individuals inside. Alternatively, if you are unsure if this is the path for you, go watch some Youtube videos like “Day in the life of a UX designer”. It will give you a glimpse of the future. If you still need more help, just drop me a message on Linkedin and I’ll be happy to help.
Take this change if you can afford to, don’t do it because everyone is in it. Remember to ask yourself why you are seeking this change before asking how to do it. Taking risks is a privilege.
Special thanks to Beatrice for editing this article!
I am currently building a no-code design and development agency — Underscore. If you’ve a website problem that needs to be solve, drop me a DM on Linkedin.
